So, About Modern Europe...: A Conversational History from the Enlightenment to the Present Day

by David Imhoof

The West – Europe and the USA – has kind of had its way with the world for a few centuries. Why else does everyone speak English, listen to hip-hop, and want to buy Mercedes? Starting with the Enlightenment, Europeans developed big ideas that have increased opportunities for people around the world and raised standards of living. But those same ideas have also produced wars, genocide, colonialism, and the potential for global environmental disaster. This book describes the origins and legacy of this mixed bag of ideas which includes everything from democracy and feminism to those old foes, communism and capitalism. After all, it’s a bag which still shapes how most people on the planet look at things today. In a natural, funny and engaging style, So, About Modern Europe... expertly guides readers through the good, the bad and the indifferent of modern European history, convincingly arguing the need to ‘tip the cap’ to the Enlightenment and its influence along the way.

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2020

Reviews

[Joel Marji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for my modern European history course. Overall insightful look on the history of Europe and how the enlightenment was the driving force behind much of the events of the 19th and 20th centuries.